ski resort opening dates
Now that it's getting dark at night and the electric blanket has gone on, it's time to think of the ski season. But by the time you may be just about to start thinking of it, some of the Austrian resorts are already open!
Here's a quick rundown of some of the main resorts, when they open, and what they have planned on the opening weekend or, in some cases, as a festival.
2024 opening dates for selected ski resorts
Here are some of the opening dates and any particular events planned for the start of the ski season for resorts which tend to make a bang with their ski openings in November and early December (and in one case in October!):
Obergurgl
Hochgurgl high in the Austrian Tyrol
Obergurgl kicks off the season as one of the first non-glacier resorts to start up from November 14, 2024.
Read more about Obergurgl
Sölden
The ski-in ski-out hamlet of Hochsölden
Sölden’s glacier ski areas may open a little bit earlier if snow conditions permit, but the winter season proper starts with the World Cup ski racing event in October on the Rettenbach glacier. The women’s giant slalom is on the 26th and the men’s on the 27th of the month.
Read more about Sölden
St Anton
St Anton ski opening
St Anton has its opening weekend scheduled for 04 December this year.
Read more about the St Anton skiing
Ischgl
Ischgl ski resort
Ischgl starts out this season on 28 November, with the traditional opening Top of the Mountain concert from British star Ellie Goulding on 30 November.
Read more about Ischgl
Obertauern
Obertauern ski resort
Moving on we travel over to the province of Salzburg and its own high-level resort. Obertauern kicks off the season on 22 November.
Read more about Obertauern
Kaprun
Glacier skiing above Kaprun
The Zell am See / Kaprun ski area has the advantage of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier which opens in the middle of October, given good snow conditions.
More about Kitzsteinhorn
skiing
We've only picked a few of the higher or more well-known resorts out - but many others have their own parties, concerts and festivals to set off the season. So if you fancy a few days at the beginning of the season, check out the flights into Innsbruck or Salzburg and enjoy the start of the season with the locals.
Last updated: 03.12.24